Gwynn Park junior wins another gold medal

Burton captures Bantam title at USA Taekwondo event

While many of his classmates were enjoying Fourth of July festivities, Gwynn Park High School junior Olie Burton ventured to Austin, Texas, where he captured the gold medal in the Bantam division of the USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics.

With his second national championship, Burton earned the right to head to Colorado Springs, Colo., on Aug. 22-23 for the United States Junior Team Trials. The victory marked Burton's third gold medal of the year. He also was victorious at the U.S. Open and the Dutch Open.

Burton won his four fights at the Junior Olympics by an average of nearly 10 points and easily defeated a familiar opponent in the title bout. Twice in previous matchups with Jericho Yabut of California, Burton had found himself on the losing end. But in last weekend's title match, Burton earned a 15-4 victory. Burton asserted his superiority early by landing a head shot in the first round that necessitated a standing eight count, and from there the outcome was never in doubt.

"My coach [Sherman Nelson] wanted me to make a statement in that fight," Burton said. "My mindset was entirely on winning that fight. He had beaten me twice before. He's a good fighter and he's been training hard. But I was able to land a head shot early. Between now and next month I know I need to train hard and remain focused."

In the semifinals against Dominique Hilliman of California, Burton briefly contemplated retiring from the tournament, since he and the other three semifinalists already had earned the right to head to Colorado Springs. But Burton quickly regained his focus once the bout began, and he kept Hilliman at bay.

"Since me and the other semifinalists had already made it into the top four and we could go to Colorado Springs, I thought about bowing out," Burton said. "Some fighters do that to avoid injury. It was a close fight. Thanks to the strategy and good coaching I was able to win it. He was really the aggressor most of the fight."

Burton opened the tournament with lopsided victories against two other California fighters, Marion Peneda, 19-3, and Adrian Lovilla, 14-5. Burton had never faced either opponent prior to those fights, but he gained the upper hand quickly both times. Against Peneda he landed three face shots, and against the smaller Lovella, Burton was in control from the outset.